Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

Question:

From Oregon: “Will you please help me in regards to the wearing of pants suits by the women. I don’t think it is right. So far, we have been able to keep them out, but now I need help badly. Will you please help?

Reply:

Our querist has touched a controversial and sensitive area. It is hoped that none will be harmed by the consideration of this Timely issue. Regardless of what is said, someone will be displeased. Therefore, with fear and trembling we tender these remarks for your thought and study.

One’s dress and outward adornment of the lack thereof, often manifests his character, or the loss thereof. The word of God teaches that modesty, dignity, and sobriety are to sit on the throne of the heart (Titus 2). When these principles reign, the individual’s attire will reveal and reflect it. Styles and fashions ebb and flow. Personal preferences vary and waver, but the immutable rules girding and guiding the meek and quiet spirit must remain inviolate. If the inner man is what it ought to be, the outer man will be also (Cf. Col. 3:9, 10; Eph. 4:22-24).

The rules of God respecting character are unalterable. However, the types and kinds of clothing differ from community to community, from nation to nation. For example, what is viewed as the “attire of an harlot” (Prov. 7:10) in New York is not that of the prostitute in Ankara, Turkey. Styles and fashions have moved boldly and radically in American society. Our personal choices have been appalled by apparel that ranges from the obscene and absurd to the wild and worldly. One cannot allow fad; fashion, or personal taste alone to determine his wardrobe. As long as one is not immodest, indecent, or allied with the appearance of evil, he has the privilege to wear new designs in clothing. One should not dress or undress in such a manner as to cause the word of God to be blasphemed.

Pants Suits And Worship

One may not like it, but the fact is that ladies’ pants suits are an acknowledged part of this country’s fashion scene. Are pants suits immodest? If so, they are wrong to wear anywhere. Are all pants suits sexually provocative? If so, they are sinful. Are pants suits necessarily identified with worldly philosophy or ungodly elements? If so, they are to be shunned (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 1:13-17). However, I cannot give an unqualified “yes” answer to the questions above. I believe pants suits are basically modest and as such are acceptable feminine attire.

“But what about the woman who wears them to worship?” Personally, I do not like them to be worn to worship. I would object if my wife wanted to wear them when we come together in the church. Different occasions and events naturally demand different types of clothing. It is not wrong in one sense to wear bib overalls to worship, but native propriety in most communities now prohibits it. It is comparable to wearing a tuxedo to a sand-lot baseball game. While pants suits may not be sinful in the assembly, they do not suit my idea of proper apparel.

So, should a dress committee stand in the foyer and demand that every woman who wears a pant suit, “Go home and put on a dress?” I think not. The lady who wears a pants suit may insist that I go home and exchange my leisure suit for a regular suit, or at least put on a tie before I lead singing, wait on the Lord’s table, or preach. Preaching without a tie around my neck may not suit the lady’s view of what is proper, but should she bar me from the pulpit? If she will let me preach in a tie-less men’s leisure suit, I will let her listen in a ladies’ pants suit.

“Way back” in the late ‘S0’s, I would not have dared to wear sideburns down past the middle of my ear. It would have been wrong because of the elements of the world that were generally associated with such a hair style for young men in this country. Today, however, the preachers who disdained Elvis Presley’s long sideburns in the ‘S0’s now have exact replicas growing from their temple to their ear lobe. See a 1957 picture of Elvis if you do not believe it. There is a parallel in some particulars regarding women’s pants suits. They are a modest style that will become, it appears, more and more acceptable in formal dress situations. One may not presently prefer the trend, but it does not inherently undermine womanly modesty and virtue.

Caution And Conclusion

Ladies, in my judgment, should be hesitant to wear pants suits to worship. All brethren should refrain from contentiousness over this matter. Do not stir strife and fan the fires of factionalism over your private, personal preferences.

Nothing has been said to lend support to a rebellious disposition. One who has a meek and quiet spirit will not flagrantly flaunt his “rights.” “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). Some brethren can be childish and selfish in some areas. If it is suggested that those who serve the Lord’s supper wear a tie, some will spitefully roll up their sleeves, unbutton their shirt, and say, in effect, “You can’t make me wear a tie!” This is beneath pettiness and immaturity. If we are “clothed with humility,” we will not be promoters of hostility.

Truth Magazine XXI: 16, p. 242
April 21, 1977

By Jeffery Kingry

Few of our Lord’s words are more abused than “Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matt. 7:1). Actually, Jesus was not condemning judgment by his saints (to separate, select, choose, to determine, decide, judge, pronounce right or wrong). He was condemning a certain type of judgment. “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24). There are two kinds of judgment: That which is according to appearance, and that which is according to God’s standard of right.

Yes, But I Know Why He Did It

Men often judge another’s intents and motives while observing their actions. I once knew a brother who made a special trip to help reconcile brethren he knew in a church feud. Those who did not want reconciliation at tempted to minimize his efforts by such comments as, “He is doing it because they have bribed him some way!” Men who produce voluminous amounts of energy and work in preaching and writing are sometimes accused of “trying to make a big name for themselves.” This is a dangerous business when men look at good done – preaching the gospel, reconciling brethren, etc., and call it evil for having judged the other’s motives and intents as unworthy. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man which is within him” (1 Cor. 2:11).

Those who do not consent to merely follow our Lord in relationship to their brethren are characterized by an over-high opinion of themselves, and hardly, if ever know anything rightly. Always misunderstood and misunderstanding they are filled with a morbid appetite for raising questions and controversies over simple matters, and are involved in endless speculations over mere words. They are a constant mill grinding out such emotions as jealousy, quarreling, insulting innuendoes, and unfair and hurtful insinuations (evil surmisings, KJV). We are told that from such men come constant friction because their spirits have become atrophied in their small hearts. So deprived of the truth are they that they often think godliness akin to their own personal acquisition. If they are able to profit personally in any quarrel they choose the side most beneficial to themselves. From such men we are commanded to turn away from in disgust (1 Tim. 6:4ff).

Not According To Appearance

We must be careful therefore)when we begin to make up our mind on issues and personalities that we do it on a just and equitable basis. We cannot pass judgment upon others through our criticism, if we ourselves do not want the same manner of judgment in return. Our Lord told us to treat others as we would be treated. God will treat us as we have treated others (Matt. 7:1, 2). It is an enigma how some expect they can stand before God to receive mercy, grace and judgment while they have always insisted on their dues from others, and ignored the rights of their brethren if it was the least bit uncomfortable for them. These have great perception and can discern the thoughts and intents of other’s minds. They are aware of the tiniest fleck of dust in the eye of their neighbor and are swift to seek to remove it, while their own eyes are half blinded and evilly sore with their own splinter. How is it they feel competent to tell others of the mud on their cuff while they themselves wallow in the mire? A godly rebuke to such people is akin to entering a Texas razorback’s pen to interest him in fine jewelry. You will be lucky to escape with your life by approaching such a mean Texas pig. Such a foolhardy soul might find his tender young hide hung on a barb wire fence for all his trouble (Matt. 7:36).

Friends Can Do No Wrong

Have you ever noticed our mutual propensity for those we love, and our swiftness to “think evil” of those we do not care for? One reason is that we seldom judge, but react. Godly judgment is according to righteousness and not according to appearance. It reminds me of “our” propaganda during the Vietnamese war. The Viet Communists’ efforts at caring for the people was “brain washing” and “propaganda.” “They” did it only to further their political cause and speed their military conquest. “They” were not really interested in the people except as pawns in their scheme. Now, “we’-‘ were different. Our “Pacification Program” was designed to “win the hearts and minds of the people.” Our “Chien Hoi” program was to help the people. One was politically motivated to win a military end, and the other was a sincere effort to help the people? Hardly. They both had the same end. It just depended which “side” you happened to be on.

Or, the illustration of the mother who speaking to her friend about her children declared, “My daughter has married the most wonderful man. He serves her breakfast in bed, takes off work to take her shopping or to have lunch with her. He even helps around, the apartment with the housework. My son? Oh, he, married a really lazy and incompetent woman! She lays in bed after he gets up and he must feed her in bed. He is always being interrupted at his job and is supposed to attend her every whim. She is so extravagant they are reduced to living in a small apartment and he must do most of the housework because of her ineptness!” It just depends on how you look at it.

Paul told us by the Holy Spirit how we are to “look at it.” “Love is slow to lose patience and looks for ways to be helpful. Love never boils with jealousy. Neither is love anxious to impress or arrogant. Love is never rude, it does not insist on its own rights, is not quick to take offense, and keeps no score of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure over other men’s failings, but always joyfully sides with right. Love is always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, hopes under all circumstances, and endures without limit” (1 Cor. 13:4-7). What a wonderful experience it would be if brethren everywhere loved one another as much as they loved their own children, wives, or husband! Indeed, we are God’s family, and one another’s brethren, yet who would know? Who would know? “In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil: Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 Jn. 3:10).

The Peanut Gallery

There is indeed a “nut gallery” made up of all those spectator Christians who are of the type who shout abuse at ball games and political rallies. They are extremely critical and vocal in their criticism, yet equally extremely exempt from any action. These are the true “Antis.” They are plainly “agin,” everything and everybody. They are disdainful of all those “hypocrites in the church.” They are quick to tell of other’s sins, but not willing to confront them and help them change. In fact they are often afraid of change. Then they might have to forgive, and could no longer hold comtempt with a “clear conscience.” Other people’s sins are mere topics of conversation with them, not a reason for action. They are not willing to teach, preach, serve, work, visit, or study, but they are extremely critical of those who do.

Righteous Living

When one does good, we can only conclude if there is no other evidence, that the fruit comes from a good tree. This is what was so perverse with the Jews. They preferred Jesus an evil man, and they could not countenance his good with their prejudiced picture of him: So, “He cast out devils by the power of the Devil.” Today, we often make up our mind about someone, and must engage in evil surmising to square our concept with his actions. Righteous judgment requires we judge men according to God’s word not by how we would like them to be. “He that doeth good is of God; But he that doeth not good hath not seen God” (3 Jn. 11). “Let love be without dissimulation. Hate what is wrong while clinging to that which is right” (Rom. 12:9). The Jews even went so far as to change the simple meaning of the Scriptures to provide self-justification for their actions rather than accept the truth (Matt. 15:1-9).

It is a little matter to be judged by men’s standards unjustly. God is the only judge we have to ultimately deal with. If we seek to follow the right and encourage others to remain within the light, then we will not suffer from judgment, either in this world or the one to come (Jn. 12:44-45; 1 Jn. 1:6, 7).

Truth Magazine XXI: 15, pp. 235-237
April 14, 1977

By Daniel H. King

When God gave commandment to the children of Israel with regard to their treatment of the pagan inhabitants of Canaan, his orders were not at all compromising. He charged: “I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; arid thou shaft drive them out before thee. Thou shaft make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee” (Ex. 23:32-33); and again: “When the Lord thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shaft smite them; then thou shaft utterly destroy them: thou shaft make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them; neither shaft thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shaft not give unto his son, nor his daughter shaft thou take unto thy son. For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly. But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherirn, and burn their graven images with fire” (Deut. 7:2-5). The people of the Lord were told to destroy completely the people of the land and the shrines where their false worship was carried on. They were to refrain from compromise in any form. Peace treaties were riot to be made. Intermarriage also posed a threat and was therefore to be avoided. Indeed, God’s attitude was unbending and unyielding. Because they were worshipping lies and offering a false hope, the God of all mercy felt no mercy for these nations. And, his people were to reflect his feelings. This same posture applied in every case where God spoke of them. In fact, whereas Israel made peace when God said not to, God sent his angel from Gilgal to Bochim with the stern rebuke: “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, `I will never break my covenant with you; , and ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars.’ But ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this”? Wherefore I also said, `I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you’ ” (Judges 2:1-3). God rebuked compromise. He did not want it. He had no intention for his people to exercise it. When they did so against his wishes, he punished them for it.

Among the many errors of king Saul, one that stands out in the biblical account is his attitude of compromise in his treatment of Agag in 1 Samuel the fifteenth chapter. God had plainly told Saul, “Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (vs. 2). Among other things Saul disobeyed God by sparing the life of Agag the king of the Amalekites. Samuel, on the other hand, took the attitude of intolerant obedience to God and “hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal” (vs. 33). It was not God’s intention that his command was to be compromised. When Saul did so God rejected him because he had rejected God.

Ahab compromised the stringent legislation of God against intermarriage with the people of the land by taking to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. As a result he “went and served Baal and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kgs. 16:3133). His pagan wife “stirred him up” to do mischief before God in a multitude of ways (1 Kgs. 21:25-26). In his latter end he perished in disgrace and the dogs licked up his blood by the pool of Samaria (1 Kgs. 22:38). His wife Jezebel was trampled to death and eaten by the dogs at Jezreel (2 Kgs. 9:33-37). Ahab compromised the command of God to his own hurt. The nations about Israel were enemies of truth and righteousness-riot potential wives and allies. Ahab paid the price for spurning the law of God.

It appears to me to be obvious that there is a lesson in these Old Testament examples (and in a host of others that could be offered), that all of us would do well to learn (Rom. 15:4). Especially is this so in light of the fact that the true Israel of God, the church, is pictured in the New Testament to be at war with the devil, the world, and sin in general, whatever form it may choose to take. The Christian is told in scripture to “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). Why? Because we have a battle to fight! Not a battle involving physical nations, carnal fighting and implements of warfare that avail for nought in such a contest. Instead, “Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the worldrulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Every one of us must prove himself a “good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). We are not to compromise and “give ground”, instead we are to “Stand!” (Eph. 6:11, 13, 14). Only by this means can we “war a good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18), “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12), and say when our time to leave the field of battle has come “I have fought the good fight” (2 Tim. 4:7).

I wonder sometimes how our brethren who are turning the mighty army that is the church of Jesus Christ into a “Make Love, Not War” battalion, visualize the battle that God gave the Christian and the church to fight. If the battle is synonymous with the “war on poverty” as some brethren have tried to make it, then the nation of India alone proves that the war is being lost. But the Bible makes it clear that this is not where the battle is to be fought. Is it solely in the arena of morality? If so, then moral laxity instead of purity is the result of their warfare. In their escape from “puritanism” they have run headlong into the enemy’s camp and have found out that the enemy “isn’t so bad after all.” Again, in connection with sectarianism they are merely beginning to justify the existence of the sects and of the “Church of Christ” as one of them, and raising the umbrella of fellowship to cover them too. Thus, the battle is certainly not being won on that front either, because it is not even being fought! As Israel saw many years ago, it is easier to “covenant” with our enemies than to fight them. And that is exactly what is, being done.

The spirit of Christian warfare is disappearing in very many places. That may seem to be a good thing to the spiritual “conscientous objectors” among us, but it does not appear so to God. God’s people are soldiers, good soldiers. And good soldiers are fighters, not compromiseres. The flag of truce is not among their battlegear. But the sword of the spirit is-the word of God. Let’s make good use of it!

Truth Magazine XXI: 15, pp. 234-235
April 14, 1977

By Robert Jackson

We are grateful for the space and opportunity to continue to study these issues that we believe are important issues that divide us. I want to say in the very beginning of this study that I find no joy in division, and I find no joy whatsoever in having to discuss the issues that divide us. I had rather be united. I had rather for all of us to be one, so there would be no division. But when there is division among our ranks, we cannot duck our heads in the sand and say, “There is no division,” and just hope that it will all pass away. What we need to do is to get down and study and examine and find out exactly why there is division within our ranks.

First of all, I have established the principle that I believe there is division as a result of not understanding Bible authority, understanding that we have a generic command and a specific command. That is given by a direct command, the necessary inference, and approved example. Also, that when we speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent we must recognize these principles, in order to be speaking as God would have us to speak. Today, we find a lot of people saying that you can do things without Bible authority, but any time you do things without Bible authority, you are going to cause division. You are going to divide yourself and separate yourself from God, and there is no other way to get around it. The reason there is division within our ranks is simply because we have got some brethren who lack respect for the word of God.

Then in our last article we discussed a misunderstanding of the church. I tried to bring to your minds that the church is the universal body of Christ. It has no universal organization. It is composed of all of God’s people all over this world, and every man that obeys the gospel of Christ is added to the church, the family of God, people who are separated, called into the kingdom of God out of the kingdom of darkness. And this is done when people believe that Christ is God’s son, when they repent of their sins, and upon the confession of their faith, they are baptized, as the Bible teaches in Acts 2:38.

Then we studied about what is a church of Christ. A church of Christ is a local church of Christ in a specific locality where Christians come together and form themselves together in a local congregation. They are organized or arranged by having elders to oversee the flock of God among them, deacons as special servants, and then money raised upon the first day of the week by the saints of God in order for the local church to do what God has authorized the local church to do. In our next study we will be talking about the work of the local church, and you need to keep this in mind. In the churches of Christ, the local churches of Christ, we do not beg for money by having pie suppers or rummage sales. We simply believe in following the pattern, and that is by the saints of God giving upon the first day of the week. Now then, we have established the church, and we have established the local churches of Christ.

Now then, today we have division within our ranks , but yet we ought not think this is strange because it was prophesied in the very beginning that division would come in the body of Christ. If you have your Bibles handy, I want you to note with me some scriptures that plainly warn the people of God about division. There should not have been division within their ranks because the men of God warned them about division. Open your Bible to Acts 20-this is a very important chapter. You will find the apostle Paul talking with the elders of the church of Ephesus over at Miletus. Keep in mind that he is talking to the elders of a local church, men who had the oversight of the flock of God which is “among them.” Listen to what he said, beginning at verse 28-“Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Now there we find that the elders have the oversight of the flock of God which is “among them.” Keep this in your mind. Then he said, “For I know this.” Now, he did not say there was any doubt in his mind, or that “it might be.” He said, “I know this, that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”

It is a rather strange thing that these wolves did not come while the apostles were there. They waited for the men of God to get away, then these false teachers sneaked in and divided the body of Christ. This is the same way they will do it today. You can let a devout man of God, a faithful man of God, stay there and preach the truth, and very seldom will you ever find a false teacher that will challenge him. But yet you let that man get away from the flock, and then these wolves will come in and try to divide the body of Christ, and that is a shame and a disgrace.

But notice what he said inverse 30-“And of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” What a shame! What a tragedy! But, yet, the truth. Paul said, “But even of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things.” Sometimes people say that this has reference to elders, which I would not deny. I think even of the eldership there would be men to arise who would “speak perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” But likewise, it could be true of preachers in a local congregation, where they would arise and start speaking things contrary to the word of God. Also observe that he said, “To draw away disciples after them.” Now then, when they teach things contrary to the word of God, they are going to draw away disciples. When they “draw away disciples after them,” that is going to bring division within the ranks of God, and there is no way to get around it. That is exactly what the man of God said. He said that division would come, that “even of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things.”

But now then, turn with me to 2 Thessalonians 2, and listen to what he said in verse 3-“Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Now space will notpermit us to get everything out of these verses that we should, but I want you to get this: Paul said there would come a “falling away.” He said the “falling away” would come as a result of somebody setting themself up “as God”-showing themselves to be God, playing God, taking the place of God, acting as if they were God. And, when they speak they say, “This is it because we said it,” and they desire to be worshipped. Paul said they would divide the body of Christ, there would be a “falling away,” there will be division within your own ranks. That, my friend, is exactly what happened.

But keep in mind that the brethren were warned that division would come. They should have been on the alert. They should have realized that it would come, because the men of God did not keep them in secret about the matter. The men of God warned them in plain, simple language that there would be division, that men would try to take the place of God, they would try to establish authority by human reason and human doctrines and by human philosophy; and, as a result, would divide the body of Christ. But listen again! The apostle Paul said in verse 7, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” Why Paul said this thing has already started! What is started, Paul? The mystery of iniquity, the dividing of the body of Christ! This thing was already started in Paul’s day. There was this division within the body of Christ already taking place. What’s causing the division, Paul? A man trying to take the place of God!

Alright now, keep that in mind and turn with me again, if you have your Bibles, to 1 Timothy 4. Listen carefully to these verses and measure what I say by the scriptures, beginning in verse 1 — “Now the spirit speaketh expressly.” Now this is the Holy Spirit expressing Himself, listen . . . “expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.” Now he did not say that all would, he said some would. “Some shall depart from the faith.” Well, my friend, when some depart from the faith, there is going to be division. The man of God is warning people that division would come. How are you going to know about it, Paul? “Giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared as with a hot iron.” Why Paul said that division would come by men speaking lies; trying to take the place of God, instead of establishing the truth. They are going to deceive people, and they are going to divide the body of Christ! And Paul said this mystery is already started working. He said that “some would depart from the faith.” He did not say all of them would, but he said that some would. And, my friend, when some do, then you have got division within the ranks of the body of Christ. Now there was not anyone who could say that they had not been warned about this division. They had been warned, and Paul pleaded with them and begged with them to realize that division would come.

But let us note again in the book of Jude. If you have your Bibles, turn to the 4th verse and read it. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation . . . .” Now watch it! “. . . ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now what are they going to do? They are going to turn “the grace of God into lasciviousness.” How are they going to do it? By denying the only Lord Jesus Christ. Pepole are not going to recognize Christ as Lord. They are going to try to take the place of Him, and they are going to try to be the Lord; and when they do, they are going to “turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.”

Now my friend, I want to challenge you to read any historian you want to, and you will read the following things that took place. Alright, first of all, in a local congregation we begin to find one elder saying. “I am going to be the bishop and you other fellows are going to be the elders.” “I am going to be the chief bishop and you are going to be the elders.” Well; now, that might look like a simple thing. Somebody might say, “Well the title bishop is scriptural. Why can’t one man be called the bishop and the other men be called elders?” Because they all have the same authority! They are either bishops or elders, and no one takes the place as the chief bishop or chief shepherd or chief elder. Christ is the chief bishop and the chief elder and chief shepherd in 1 Peter 5. Elders and bishops must be identified as such.

But here is a man who said, “I am going to be the bishop. I am going to be the elder. I am going to take over this congregation.” That seems simple. But what happened? It began to spread. They began to say, “Well now, I’ll take over this diocese, and you take over that diocese.” And, do you know ‘something? As the years went by, they had five patriarchs set up. They had one in the city of Alexandria, they had one in Constantinople, they had one in Rome, they had one in Jerusalem, and they had one in Antioch. Each one of them said, “I will take the oversight of this diocese.” Five patriarchs overseeing local churches-that is already departure from God’s order. And then you know what happened? They began to clamor over who was going to take over all of them. Finally, as the years went by, in about the year 606 A.D., we find that one man by the name of Boniface III identified as this man, became the first universal bishop of all the churches and took over the authority in this manner. Thus we have the complete departure and the forming of Catholicism-as a result of division within the ranks of the body of Christ.

This should have been a lesson for the people of God. We should have learned to stick with the Bible and do exactly like Paul and the others said. But no, brethren decided they would become as God, and as a result of it, divided the body of Christ, and the Roman Catholic Church was born. And that is exactly how she got into existence-as a departure within the ranks of the body of Christ. Division within our ranks: a shame and a disgrace, but true! But enough for this article, and we shall continue our study in the next.

Truth Magazine XXI: 15, pp. 232-234
April 14, 1977